Modular container system

ABSTRACT

A modular container system may enable a user to create a set of interconnected containers to organize and pack small items. The modular container system may be assembled in various ways to hold one or more items in separate compartments of varying size. The modular container system may have the same diameter as a typical sports water bottle, making the container system easy to pack and readily accessible to the user. The modular container system may be useful in various situations where a person needs to organize and store items. Applications may include outdoor sports and recreation, military, automotive, arts and crafts, construction tools and materials, food storage, toy storage, and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/151,237, filed Feb. 10, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to containers, and morespecifically to modular containers and modular container systems.

In many activities, including outdoor sports and recreation, it isdifficult to organize, pack and make accessible small items. For certainactivities, water resistant storage may be desired. Often, users storeitems in plastic storage bags or tins stowed in various compartments ina portable carry device, such as a backpack. Plastic bags may be crushedor punctured, spilling their contents and losing water resistance.

As can be seen, there is a need for a container system that mayorganize, store and make accessible items stored therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a container comprises at leastone open ended container, each open ended container having a first openend and a second open end; at least one end cap adapted to cover atleast one of the first open end and the second open end; and at leastone connecting part adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of the openended container when the at least one open ended container is at leasttwo open ended containers.

In another aspect of the present invention, a container system comprisesmultiple open ended containers, each open ended container having a firstopen end and a second open end; at least one connecting part adapted tointerconnect adjacent ones of the open ended containers; and a first endcap and a second end cap covering ends of the container system, whereinthe connecting part is selected from the group consisting of a floorlessconnecting part and a divided connecting part.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a kit comprises acontainer comprising at least one open ended container, each open endedcontainer having a first open end and a second open end; at least oneend cap adapted to cover at least one of the first open end and thesecond open end; and at least one connecting part adapted tointerconnect adjacent ones of the open ended container when the at leastone open ended container is at least two open ended containers; andsupplies stored within the container.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular container system according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container system takenalong line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the modular container systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular container system according toan alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container system takenalong line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a modular containersystem according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is mademerely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of theinvention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by theappended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides amodular container system that may enable a user to create a set ofinterconnected containers to organize and pack small items. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the modular container system mayhave the same diameter as a typical sports water bottle, making thecontainer system easy to pack and readily accessible to the user. Themodular container system may be useful in various situations where aperson needs to organize and store items. Applications may includeoutdoor sports and recreation, military, automotive, arts and crafts,construction tools and materials, food storage, toy storage, and thelike.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a modularcontainer system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.As described in greater detail below, the container system 10 mayinclude at least one open ended container 12. Multiple open endedcontainers 12-2, 12-4, 12-6 may be coupled together by, for example,either a floorless connecting part 16 or a dividing connecting part 18.End caps 14 may be removably disposed on each end of the containersystem 10.

The floorless connecting part 16 may connect two adjacent open endedcontainers 12-2, 12-4 to provide a single storage section. The dividedconnecting part 18 may connect two adjacent open ended containers 12-4,12-6 to provide two separate container sections coupled together.

Each of the open ended containers 12-2, 12-4, 12-6 may have the same ordifferent heights. The diameter of each of the open ended containers12-2, 12-4, 12-6 making up a container system 10 may be the same and mayapproximate the diameter of a sports water bottle (for example, fromabout 2 to about 3 inches). The container system 10 may be manufacturedwith various standard diameters. For example, the container system 10may have a diameter between 10 and 12 inches.

The container systems 10 may be manufactured from various materials andwith various colors. Typically, the open ended containers 12, the endcaps 14, the floorless connecting parts 16 and the divided connectingparts 18 may be made of plastic or metal. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the open ended containers 12 may be made of a clearplastic. In another embodiment of the present invention, the variouscolors may correspond with various standard diameters, thereby aidingmatching components of the same diameter.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view of thecontainer system 10 of FIG. 1. Gaskets 20 may be included betweenadjacent components of the container system 10. For example, the gasket20 may be included between the end cap 14 and the open ended container12-2. The gasket 20 may also be included between open ended container12-2 and floorless connection part 16. The gaskets 20 may provideenhanced water resistance or watertightness. The gaskets 20 may beoptional, as water resistance may be provided by a mechanical sealbetween the components, as described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an exploded perspective view ofthe container system 10 of FIG. 1. Male threads 24 may be disposed oneach end of the open ended containers 12. Female threads 26, mating withthe male threads 24, may be disposed in the end caps 14, the floorlessconnecting parts 16 and the divided connecting parts 18. The malethreads 24 and the female threads 26 may permit assembly of thecontainer system 10 to yield the assembled container assembly as shownin FIG. 1. The threads 24, 26 may be any type of threads known in theart. For example, the threads 24, 26 may have undulations cut at matingangles to help provide water resistance within the threads.

While FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, show a uniform width container,variable widths may within the scope of the present invention. Forexample, the open ended containers 12 may have a taper at the necks ofthe container, near the threads. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, regardless of varying diameters and tapered necks, thecontainer system 10 may still be a modular system, having mating threadsbetween the open ended containers 12 and the connection parts 16, 18 andthe end caps 14.

While threads are shown as the connecting means between variouscomponents, various connecting means are contemplated within the scopeof the present invention. For example, a peg may be provided in lieu ofthe female threads and a slot may be provided in lieu of the mailthreads to assemble the components. In alternate embodiments, thecomponents may be assembled by a friction fit. In other possibleembodiments the male and female threads may be reversed, e.g., the endsof the open ended containers may have female threads and the end capsand/or connecting parts may have male threads.

As can be appreciated from the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, thecontainer system 10 may be a modular system, permitting interchange ofcomponents. For example, multiple open ended containers 12 may be joinedtogether either with floorless connecting parts 16, to form a singlelong container system 10, or with divided connecting parts 18, to formmultiple individual chambers within the container system 10.Alternatively, a single open ended container 12 may be fitted with endcaps 14 to provide a single chambered container system 10. The containersystem 10 may provide the user with flexibility in organizing andstoring items. Flexibility may include options for container size andthe combination of different sized containers when the open endedcontainers 12 are connected together.

The container system 10 may be assembled as part of a kit. The kit maycontain various supplies stored within each of the open ended containers12. The supplies within a container system 10 may be drawn to a commonpurpose. For example, the kit may be a first aid kit containing firstaid supplies, a survival kit containing wilderness survival supplied, ashelter kit containing emergency shelter supplied, a cooking kitcontaining cooking supplies or the like. Multiple kits may be joinedtogether. For example, end caps 14 from a first aid kit and a survivalkit may be removed and a divided connecting part 18 may join these twokits together to form a single container system 10 containing multiplekits.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown perspective andcross-sectional views of a container system 40 according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the containersystem 40 may include a perforated end cap 22. The perforated end cap 22may be useful in indications where a water resistant end cap is notrequired. For example, the perforated end cap may be useful as a cookingstrainer or to allow air to pass about damp items stored within thestorage section 12-2. The other components of the container system 40,such as the open ended containers 12, the floorless connecting part 16,the divided connecting part 18 and the end cap 14 may be the same asthose described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional view of acontainer system 60 according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, additional water resistance may beprovided by a mechanical seal formed between adjacent components of thecontainer system 60. For example, an external flange 62 on open endedcontainers 12′ may provide mechanical sealing when the connecting parts(such as divided connecting part 18′) are mated with the open endedcontainers 12′. The external flange 62 may also provide contour to theouter surface of the container system 60. In addition, an internalflange 64 may be present on the connecting parts 16, 18 or the end caps14 to provide an alternate mechanical seal. For example, in FIG. 6, theinternal flange 64 is present on divided connecting part 18′.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A container comprising: at least one open ended container, each openended container having a first open end and a second open end; at leastone end cap adapted to cover at least one of the first open end and thesecond open end; and at least one connecting part adapted tointerconnect adjacent ones of the open ended container when the at leastone open ended container is at least two open ended containers.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the at least one open ended containerincludes at least a first open ended container and a second open endedcontainer.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the connecting part is afloorless connecting part fluidly connecting the first open endedcontainer with the second open ended container.
 4. The container ofclaim 2, wherein the connecting part is a divided connecting partproviding separate chambers within the first open ended container andthe second open ended container.
 5. The container of claim 2, wherein:the first open end of the first open ended container and the first openend of the second open ended container are interchangeably connectedwith either a floorless connecting part or a divided connecting part;and the second open end of the first open ended container and the secondend of the second open ended container are each covered by the end cap.6. The container of claim 2, further comprising at least one gasketpositioned between adjacent components of the container.
 7. Thecontainer of claim 1, further comprising: threads on each first open endand second open end; and mating threads on each end cap and eachconnecting part.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the threads andmating threads provide water resistance against water passing throughthe threads and mating threads when in an interconnected position. 9.The container of claim 1, wherein at least one end cap includesperforations.
 10. The container of claim 1, wherein adjacent componentsare joined together to form a mechanical seal therebetween.
 11. Thecontainer of claim 10, wherein the mechanical seal comprises a flange onthe open ended container.
 12. The container of claim 1, wherein the openended containers are transparent.
 13. A container system comprising:multiple open ended containers, each open ended container having a firstopen end and a second open end; at least one connecting part adapted tointerconnect adjacent ones of the open ended containers; and a first endcap and a second end cap covering ends of the container system, whereinthe connecting part is selected from the group consisting of a floorlessconnecting part and a divided connecting part.
 14. The container systemof claim 13, further comprising: threads on each first open end andsecond open end; and mating threads on each end cap and each connectingpart.
 15. The container system of claim 13, wherein at least one end capincludes perforations.
 16. The container system of claim 13, wherein:adjacent components are joined together to form a mechanical sealtherebetween; and the mechanical seal comprises a flange on the openended container.
 17. The container of claim 16, wherein the mechanicalseal increases water resistance of the container system.
 18. A kitcomprising: a container comprising: at least one open ended container,each open ended container having a first open end and a second open end;at least one end cap adapted to cover at least one of the first open endand the second open end; and at least one connecting part adapted tointerconnect adjacent ones of the open ended container when the at leastone open ended container is at least two open ended containers; andsupplies stored within the container.
 19. The kit of claim 18, whereinthe supplies are related to a common purpose.
 20. The kit of claim 18,further comprising: threads on each first open end and second open end;and mating threads on each end cap and each connecting part.